E-Branch Participation
ESU National Shakespeare Competition

No branch? No problem!

 

The English-Speaking Union (ESU) uses technology to bring the National Shakespeare Competition to high school students and educators across the United States.

Register your School – CHOOSE E-BRANCH FROM THE DROP-DOWN MENU

Schools can participate regardless of location. If your school does not have access to a participating local ESU Branch competition, you can enter through the E-Branch, a remote competition that allows students to showcase their Shakespearean performance skills through video submissions.

As participation has grown, the E-Branch has expanded into two regional divisions: North and South. One champion from each region will advance to the ESU National Shakespeare Competition Finals in New York City, joining approximately 40 other Branch Champions from across the country.

The 2027 National Finals will take place at Lincoln Center in New York City, April 24–26, 2027. E-Branch regional champions and their families will be invited to participate in a weekend of activities celebrating Shakespeare, culminating in the live National Finals.

How to Participate

Participation in the E-Branch begins with school registration and a schoolwide competition. Follow these four steps to enter.

1. Register Your School

Complete the 2027 School Registration Form and select E-Branch from the dropdown menu.

2. Hold a Schoolwide Competition

After registering, your school must hold its own competition to select a school winner. Students should perform one Shakespeare monologue and one sonnet, choosing both selections from the ESU-provided packets available through the Competition Documents and Forms section of our website.

Your school will determine which student advances as its E-Branch representative.

3. Record Your School Winner

Record your winning student’s monologue and sonnet following the video recording guidelines below. Both selections must be presented in one continuous, unedited video.

4. Submit Your School Winner by February 12, 2027

Complete the E-Branch School Winner Form and include a link to your student’s video.

Deadline: Friday, February 12, 2027.

E-Branch regional champions advancing to the National Finals in New York City will be announced on or before March 8, 2027.

Video Recording Guidelines

To ensure a fair and equitable competition, all video submissions must follow these requirements:

  • Recording equipment: Use simple, readily available technology. Cell phone video is acceptable; professional recording, lighting, sound, or editing equipment is not permitted.
  • Visibility and sound: Students must be clearly visible and audible. Full-body framing is preferred; waist-up framing is acceptable.
  • No costumes, sets, or props: Clothing and hair may not be used as props.
  • No stage recordings: Performances must not be recorded on a stage.
  • No camerawork or special effects: Close-ups, pans, fades, and added sound or lighting are not permitted.
  • No titles or credits: Do not add titles, credits, or other on-screen text.
  • Student introduction: Begin the recording by stating the student’s full name and the titles of both selections, in performance order.
  • Approved selections only: Both the monologue and sonnet must come from the ESU-provided packets.
  • One continuous take: Record both selections in a single, continuous, unedited video.
  • Video upload: Upload the video to YouTube as Unlisted and include the link on the School Winner Form.
  • Failure to follow these guidelines may result in disqualification.
Everything You Need to Get Started
E-Branch Resources and Forms
Links